System of starting internal-combustion-engine-driven motor-vehicles.



H. O'NEILL. SYSTEM OF STARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE DRIVEN MOTORVEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED HAYS, 1911.

1,047,1 14, I Patented Dec. 10, 1912;

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GIBSON ONEILL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TOWIL- LIAM E. THOMPSON AND ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN F. O'BRIEN, BOTH OFDETROIT,

MICHIGAN.

SYSTEM 01 STARTING INTEBNAL-GOMBUSTION-ENGINE-DRIVEN MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed May 6, 1911. Serial No. 625,565.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GmsoN ONEILL, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented gertainnew and useful Improvements in Systems ofStarting Internal- CombustioIi-Engine-Driven Motor-Vehicles, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being bad therein to theaccompanying drawings.

The invention relates to engine starters more particularly designed foruse upon motor vehicles, and it is one of the objects of the inventionto effect the starting by the utilization of agencies having also afunction in the normal operation of the machine. Thus the dynamogenerator and storage battery which forms a part of the ignition systemand lighting systemnormally used on the car are, with -my improvement,adapted to constitute the main elements of the startingsystem.

A further 'object of the invention is to obtain the necessary startingtorque with a motor and battery of minimum size and capacity, therebyreducing weight and conserving the space onrthe car.

Still further it is an object to render the starting positive byinsuring the presence of explosive gases upon the initial suction strokeof the engine.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction ashereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, my apparatus sent/ed diagrammatically.

A is a stora e battery and B is a dynamomotor for com ined torque andcurrent generation, C is a drive connection between the generator B andthe motor which is diagrammatically represented as a belt or chainengaging the engine fly-wheel D. By utilizin the fly-wheel in thistransmission I am enabled to obtain a relatively large speed reductionsuch for instance as-six to one from the motor to the engine shaft andat the same time to obtain a compact arrangement of parts.

As has been stated it is one of the objects of the invention to obtainthe requisite starting torque with as small a motor and. battery aspossible. For this purpose the organizais repretion of the motor. issuch as to-obtain'the structed to have a relatively low ohmic resistanceso as to be capable of carrying a large current volume with a relativelylow electro-motive force. This will produce the high power for starting,but with such a drain upon the battery continuation for more than abrief interval would have a destructive'ac'tion. Thus special provisionmust be made for avoiding such a result which I obtain primarily by theuse of a self-opening circuit closing switch. In addition to this adash-pot or other timing mechanism is employed for regulating the timeinterval during which the switch remains closed. This being sufficientto insure the starting but limited to avoid destructive action.

As diagrammatically illustrated, G is the element for manual operationshown in the form of a push-rod. This rod is mechanically connected bylevers H with the relief valves for the various engine cylinders s0 astorelieve the compression during starting, and the rod is furtherconnected with an electric switch I for controlling the motor circuit.

J is a spring for automatically returning the rod when the operatingpressure is re-- closing of this switch is efiected, the rod through thelever connections H will operate the relief valves to reduce theresistance of turning the engine crank. The switch I is connected byleads L, L L and L with the battery and the generator B, the arrangementbeing such as to completely connect these devices when the switch isopen and to include.

them in series when the switchis closed. Thiscircuit also includes theseries coil F ofatheimotor to increase the starting torque.

In addition to the circuit just described, the

generator B and battery A are adapted to be connected by an independentcircuit M,

, load switch to open the circuit.

vOne of the general causes of failure in starting is the lack of anexplosive mixture for the initial suction stroke. This I have guardedagainst by providing an electric heating unit P arranged to vaporize asuflicient quantity of the liquid fuel to produce the explosive gas.unit is arranged in the carbureter and either directly immersed in theliquid fuel or closely associated with the fuel discharge nozzle. Thecircuit for the heater is closed upon the initial movement of the rod Gby suitable means such as the bridge contact Q on said rod for couplingthe circuit terminal contacts R and S, and when the circuit is closedthe heater P is in series with the battery.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described the operation is asfollows: WVhenever the rod G (which ma be mounted on the dash-board orany ot er convenient location on the vehicle) is pushed inward, theinitial movement will close the circuit T for the heater P. This willcause the instantaneous vaporizing of a portion of the liquid fuel sothat before mechanical motion is imparted to the engine an explosive gaswill be produced. The further movement of the rod G operates the leversH for opening the relief valves after which the switch I is closed,throwing the battery and motor B with the series coil F included incircuit. All of these operations are performed during the inwardmovement of the rod G against the tension of the spring J and upon therelease of said rod the spring will return it to its initial position.On account however, of the dash-pot K a definite time interval isrequired to completely return the rod, this being sufficient to insurethe startmg of the engine but not long-enough to have a detrimentaleffect on the battery. During the return movement the levers H Wlllgradually close the relief valves on the completion of theoperation(which need not require more than one or two seconds) and the engine isthen in normal working condition. I

As soon as the engine is started, the generator B is mechanically drivenand the electromotive force developed will rise until the under loadswitch is operated to close the circuit M. The current will then beutilized for recharging the battery A and Preferably this heating 0 mayalso be employed for operating the ignition system and the lightingsystem which however, are not shown in the diagram.

What I claimas my invention is:

. 1. An engine starter comprising a motor organized for high startingtorque efliciency, a battery sufiicient to operate said motor for abrief interval, a circuit closing switch for said battery and motor, andmeans automatically operating to limit the interval in which the circuitis closed to that within the operating capacity of the battery.

2. An engine starter comprising an electric motor organized for highstartingtorque efliciency and having a mechanical transmission with theengine, a battery sufficient to supply said motor with current for thebrief interval in which the circuit is closed, and means operatingautomatically upon the attainment of the requisite electromotive forcefor converting said motor into an efficient current generator torecharge the battery.

3. An engine starter comprising a dynamo motor having a mechanicaltransmission with the engine, a battery having a capacity sufficient tosupply current to said motor for a brief interval, a switch for couplingsaid battery to said motor, means acting automatically to open thecircuit within a predetermined limit, a circuit for connecting saidmotor as a current generator with said battery for re-charging the same,and a switch automatically operating upon the attainment of therequisite electromotive force in the generator to close said re-chargingcircuit.

4. An engine starter comprising a dynamo motor, a storage battery havinga capacity sutficient to supply said motor for a brief interval, acircuit closing switch for said motor and battery, means forautomatically openin said switch after a predetermined interva andmechanical connections to said switch for initially relieving andsubsequently restoring the compression of the engine.

5. All engine starter comprising a dynamo motor having a mechanicaltransmission with the engine, a storage battery having a capacitysufficient to supply current to said motor for a brief interval,manually operable means for closing the clrcuit of said battery andmotor, means for automatically opening said circuit after apredetermined interval, and associated instrumentalities forfacilitating the starting of the engine simultaneously operated by saidmanually operated means.

6. In an engine starter, the combination with means for mechanicallyactuating the engine,of an electric fuel vaporizer for generating theexplosive gas for the initial operation, and acommon controlling meansfor said mechanical starter and electric vaporlzer.

7.-In an engine starter, the combination with means for mechanicallyactuating the engine, of an) electric fuel vaporizer for supplying theexplosive gas for the initial operatlon of the engine, a compressionrelief chanical starter and the electric vaporizer.

9. An engine starter comprising a motor organized for high startingtorque eificiency,

said motor having a relatively low ohmic resistance whereby it isadapted to carry a large current volume a battery suflicient to operatesaid motor for a brief interval, a

circuit closing switch for said battery and motor, and means forautomatically opening said circuit within a predetermined time limitedto an interval within the operating capacity of the battery.

10. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor, of a. circuitfor the motor, an

electric fuel vaporizer for supplying the explosivegas for the initialoperation of the engine, a circuit for said electrical vaporizer, acompression relief mechanism, and

of to first close the vaporizer circuit, to then open the relief valveand to thenclose the motor circuit.

11. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor, of a circuit forthe motor, an electric fuel vaporizer for supplying the explosive gasfor the initial operation of the engine, a circuit for said electricalvaporlzer, a compression relief mechanism, mechanism acting upon theoperation thereof to first close the vaporizer circuit, to then open therelief valve and to then close the motor circuit, and means actingautomatically to operate said mechanism after a predetermined period toreturn said mechanism to its normal position. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.HENRY GIBSON ONEILL. Witnesses:

James P. BARRY, WILLIAM PAGEL.

mechanism acting upon the operation there a

